Building a Woods Coop for DLM in the Shenandoah Valley

[DoozyWombat]

I'd forget the buckets and build some nests....at least 14W x 14D x 16H. Brahmas are big birds, and all birds like to be able to run around and around to get settled.

I have rotated the tubs so they are vertical, and they are 14" high, but not so wide. I'll definitely build one box at least as big as you recommend, though I might well try jthornton's community box. We'll see what the birds want to do.

Thanks for all the excellent advice!

 

[aart]

I have rotated the tubs so they are vertical, and they are 14" high, but not so wide. I'll definitely build one box at least as big as you recommend, though I might well try jthornton's community box. We'll see what the birds want to do.

Thanks for all the excellent advice!

I built my nest bank to be either a community nest or a divided one.
Started off with 2 singles and double....they used the double as a single so I added the dividers back and never changed them again.

 

[Molpet]

So they can roost, they just don't want to at night. Fascinating. What do you use for roosts?

And I have wondered, ever since I learned that CX were mysterious crosses that could not be replicated in heritage breeds, what results would come from CX breeding. Are your CX great-grandchildren breeding anywhere close to the traditional CX characteristics?

I use flat 2x4 .
The first generation, 1/2 CX , were the biggest. I didn't weigh any though. Broody raised and never handled. The rest of the generations cockerels dress out 5-7# at 16wks usually. So they don't have the same growth, but better than full heritage. They are healthier though

 

[Kusanar]

Also, I definitely do want some birds to go broody, from time to time. Maybe I can adjust the floor so it is flat in one area, and move eggs there when I want that to happen?

I would just give them nesting materials when you want that to happen. Eggs won't roll out of a bedded roll out nest, they have to have a smooth surface to roll on like indoor/outdoor carpet, hardware cloth, etc.

 

[jthornton]

Your roll out box is a cool design! I love the concept of a community box. Don't know if the birds will get along well enough to share the space, though. Could that be a breed-dependent thing? I may just have to build a version of that.

Also, I definitely do want some birds to go broody, from time to time. Maybe I can adjust the floor so it is flat in one area, and move eggs there when I want that to happen?

So much to learn!

I have a front roll out nest box somewhere in the posts, never got around to making an article. It is much easier to build than my RONB Mk2.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Here is the front roll out nest box.

JT

 

[DoozyWombat]

Here is the front roll out nest box.

JT

Thanks!

 

[DoozyWombat]

Here's a follow-up. The chicks are now in their third week in this coop. I have 23 Cornish Cross (CX), 8 Dark Brahmas, and 1 Leghorn. We have had temps down to 22F, and winds gusting over 60mph. I needed to cover the front lower window with cardboard when the wind got high, but a pair of 250w heat lamps were plenty when it got really cold.

 

[Ted Brown]

...We have had temps down to 22F, and winds gusting over 60mph. I needed to cover the front lower window with cardboard when the wind got high, but a pair of 250w heat lamps were plenty when it got really cold.

I have a 10' by 16' Woods KD. My flock went through temperatures as low as -30C for several days, multiple times through the winter. I did NOT cover the front NOR did I use any heat other than what the birds themselves generate and a heating cord (21 watts) that I have under the nest box to avoid freezing eggs (except for the ones they lay on the drop board).

 

[DoozyWombat]

I have a 10' by 16' Woods KD. My flock went through temperatures as low as -30C for several days, multiple times through the winter. I did NOT cover the front NOR did I use any heat other than what the birds themselves generate and a heating cord (21 watts) that I have under the nest box to avoid freezing eggs (except for the ones they lay on the drop board).

Wow, that's harsh--the weather, not you. But these are newly-hatched chicks, with no adults. Aren't they going to be a lot more sensitive to deep cold than the adults? All the information I've seen about new hatchlings says that they are very cold sensitive at first, and not well insulated until they feather out. And I did lose two CX one night when it was very windy and freezing. The others all looked stressed that morning, too.

The first three days, I put (red) heat lamps on 24 hours per day. The next three, I only put them on if the temp got near freezing. At one week, I took away the cardboard corral and let them have the run of the 8x12 coop. And as I said, I stapled cardboard over the big window when temps were at freezing and the winds were over 60mph.

When I have adults, I won't cover the windows no matter what the weather says. If a hen has chicks, I'm assuming she'll keep them from freezing. Just now, the darned CX look like they are half-plucked already, they are growing so fast. I'm taking away their food at night, and they are ready to eat me when I come into the coop in the morning!

But all heat is off now--and probably forever. Next winter, I'm going to follow your plan, and see how it goes.